Dealing with Distress
About Dealing with Distress
This is a skills-based program designed to support individuals in developing the capacity to tolerate intense emotions and manage self-harming behaviours commonly associated with Borderline Personality Disorder.
The program is informed by the principles of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and integrates standard Cognitive Behavioural techniques—such as emotion regulation and reality testing—with core DBT concepts, including mindfulness, distress tolerance, and radical acceptance.
This program may be suitable for you if:
- Your emotions can fluctuate rapidly in a short span of time.
- You can be quite impulsive and have poor self-esteem.
- You often struggle to manage your relationships with others, and want to learn how to build and maintain meaningful connections with people you care about.
- You struggle to cope with distress, and want to stop unhelpful behaviours (e.g., self-harming, alcohol consumption) by finding alternative coping strategies to reduce your emotional pain.
- You are feeling overwhelmed with your daily tasks and want to learn how to get out of this cycle.
Program content
- Distress tolerance
- Emotion regulation
- Mindfulness
- Interpersonal effectiveness
- Self Respect
What you will experience
Throughout this program you will participate in group sessions lead by a qualified Allied Health Professional. Each session will support you to use new skills to guide, inspire and motivate yourself to set goals, take action and enrich your life. You will practice applying skills in your own day-to-day before the next session. Bring what you have learnt and experienced to each group for feedback and input.
Treatment objectives
Objective 1
Structured Strategies to Cope with Distress – Reduce reliance on impulsive and risky behaviours by developing more strategies to cope with your distress in difficult situations.
Objective 2
Understanding and Managing Emotions- Learn how to respond and regulate stressful emotions more effectively via practical strategies and fostering radical acceptance.
Objective 3
Navigating Relationships – Explore strategies to build up your sense of self and getting your own needs met while also forming meaningful relationships with others.
Objective 4
Being in the Present Moment – Practice mindfulness skills to break away from rumination and negative self-doubting thoughts.
Objective 5
Understanding Thoughts and Beliefs - Learn about the different states of mind, and how to respond to your unhelpful thoughts and beliefs that can impact on how you feel and your sense of self.
What's included
Education
To develop or refine new skills and strategies.
Workbooks
To guide you though education, reflection and exercises designed to tackle your symptoms.
Action Plans
Step-by-step activities to help you put new skills into practice.
Extra Resources
Tools to help you overcome common challenges.
Progress Tracking
Questionnaires to help you monitor your symptoms and/or progress.
Check-ins
Support between treatments to help keep things on track.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost?
Patients are admitted as a day patient and as such, can claim their attendance via their health fund. We ask that patients confirm any applicable out-of-pocket excess or gap costs directly with Deakin Private Hospital by calling 02 5114 8100.
Who will find this program helpful?
People who are experiencing intense fluctuating moods, poor sense of self, relationship difficulties or conflicts, or who struggle to cope with distress. This may also include people who are impulsive or utilise self-harming as a coping strategy, a behaviour that is often associated with Borderline Personality Disorder. This program will also benefit people who are finding it difficult to cope with life demands, such as work, study, relationships, or caring for others.
How long does this program run for?
This group is held every week for 12 weeks on Fridays.
When is the next intake?
This program is run on Fridays, from 9am. The next programs commence; Friday 26th September and Friday 9th January 2026.
